SpaceX Is Set to Launch the Falcon Heavy Rocket Today. You Can Watch Live Here

The highly anticipated first launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket is finally here. Touted as “the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two,” the Falcon Heavy is slated to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Tuesday any time between 1:30 and 4 p.m. ET. The launch could be delayed by weather or technical glitches, however. Here’s what to know about SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. What is the Falcon Heavy rocket? The Falcon Heavy is a heavy-lift rocket producing up to 5.5 million lbs. of thrust in its first stage, with the ability to lift payloads up to 141,000 lbs. Whereas SpaceX’s smaller Falcon 9 rocket has nine engines, the Flacon Heavy has 27 — it’s essentially three Falcon 9 rockets strapped together. Following the Falcon Heavy launch, SpaceX will attempt to land all three of its nine-engine cores back on Earth. SpaceX has spent years developing a landing technique that allows the company to reuse rockets after launches, cutting down on costs. SpaceXSpaceX Falcon Heavy Static Test When is the Falcon Heavy launch? The Falcon Heavy launch is set for Tuesday, Feb. 6, with a window opening at 1:30 p.m. ET and closing at 4 p.m. ET. Technical issues and bad weather can cause launches to be scrubbed, however. There’s another launch window on Wednesday. (Rocket launches often have specific timing windows based on Earth’s rotation and other factors.) Flight pro...
Source: TIME: Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Uncategorized onetime space SpaceX Source Type: news